Hypothetical: Choose a free tech

[Globex]

Here's the situation.

Spoiler :

A representative from an advanced alien civilization beams down into a UN meeting and delivers his greetings to the people of Earth. To demonstrate that the civilization he represents is interested in having peaceful relations with the countries of Earth, he offers one technology of choice as a gift of goodwill.

-All the information pertaining to the technology will be made readily available to the public through internet and other forms of media
-Alien scientific advisers will meet with world leaders and help countries to build the basic infrastructure needed to make the technology widespread readily available

The representative tells the UN that they are free to request any technology as long as their request falls under certain conditions:

-The information requested must not be too broad - the limit to the amount of technology offered cannot be defined but think around the lines of one CIV tech

(e.g. a cure for cancer is allowed; a cure for all disease is not. plans to build a device capable of removing massive amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere is allowed; technologies to solve every environmental problem known to man - no)

-The technology may not be too far beyond our current technological state (if our brightest scientists cannot understand the basic scientific principles behind a technology, it is not an option)

The UN forms a committee of scientists, advisers and representatives to decide what to choose.

If you were a member of the committee responsible of deciding, what kind of technology would you choose?

What would be your goals in choosing this technology? Solve our current problems? Expand our basic knowledge of the universe? Turbo-charge our economy? Pave the way for exploration and colonization of other worlds?

 

[Defiant47]

More advanced forms of weaponry.

 

[Munch]

Something like Advanced Social Models, to improve quality of life and general well-being.

 

[Mise]

Whatever their most advanced form of energy generation is. I'm assuming something more advanced than fusion power, since the energy requirements of a race capable of interstellar travel would probably be much greater than fusion might realistically provide, but even that would be pretty neat.

OR

The technology to convert any matter into energy and vice versa. This could be used to fuel stuff and also to build stuff, which would be even neater.

 

[Weik]

Some form of energy technology. Cold fusion maybe.

 

[Narz]

Ability to see the consequences of our actions. Sort of like the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil but one that actually works instead of a ******ed one that makes people hate their own naked bodies. This is what the world needs most, both on an individual level & on a mass societal level. Pure foresight.

 

[Mise]

Ability to see the consequences of our actions. Sort of like the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil but one that actually works instead of a ******ed one that makes people hate their own naked bodies. This is what the world needs most, both on an individual level & on a mass societal level. Pure foresight.

1. That's not a technology.

2. Why bother when people already ignore the knowledge we have in favour of their own idiotic beliefs and prejudices?

 

[Weik]

naked bodies. This is what the world needs most

I agree

 

[Tee Kay]

Better agricultural techniques, methods, etc.

 

[Kozmos]

Molecular manufacturing.

 

[Fayadi]

Fusion energy. Free energy will bring the cost of everything down. Improving quality of life.

 

[Narz]

I agree

1. That's not a technology.

3. It could be

2. Why bother when people already ignore the knowledge we have in favour of their own idiotic beliefs and prejudices?

4. You answered your own question. The alien mind-ray wouldn't take away people's prejudices (and free will to create them), it just would render them incapable of fooling themselves & others. They would know the truth behind the surface of every thought, word & deed, no matter how insignificant, and the strain of that knowledge would force them to be righteous.

 

[Truronian]

Progenitor Psych

 

[Bill3000]

Irrigation, Mining, and Roads.

 

[aelf]

Liberalism for another free tech.

 

[tycoonist]

fusion is gonna be so vital, the sooner we have it the better... except we would still need a better way of producing hydrogen

 

[Brighteye]

Prolonging our lives indefinitely with cellular repair systems seems like a good one.
I'd happily live through a few thousand years of economic chaos if it were likely to be just a short part of a long life.

 

[Ammar]

FTL travel would certainly be nice, but might count as too advanced. Otherwise fusion or another advanced energy generator would be the way to go.

 

[Zelig]

Technology I want: Quantum computing, and applicable software libraries and platforms to make use of it.

FTL travel would certainly be nice, but might count as too advanced.

It counts as impossible.

 

[thekaje]

An easier, simpler way to get all that fat off the chicken.